Infectious Disease Epidemiology BMTRY 713 (A. Selassie, DrPH) Lecture 23 Vector-Borne Disease (Part II) Epidemiology of Malaria Learning Objectives 1. Overview of malaria Global perspectives 2. Identify clinical manifestations 3. Factors increasing transmission 4. Discuss Prevention strategies Malaria Malaria is an intermittent and remittent fever caused by a protozoan parasite that invades the red blood. The parasite is transmitted by mosquitoes in many tropical and subtropical regions. People with malaria often experience fever, chills, and flu-like illness. Left untreated, they may develop severe complications and die Population at Risk 3.4 billion people live in areas at risk of malaria transmission 106 countries at risk 207 million clinical episodes in 2012 110 million cases reported yearly 1-2 million cases are fatal 91% of the deaths are in Africa Selassie AW (DPHS) 1
Malaria Worldwide Africa South East Asia Central and South America Europe United States 94 million cases 5-10 million 1-2 million 500,000 1200 Agent of the disease Protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium 5 phases of the life cycle involving the mosquito vector and human host Affinity for erythrocytes varies with species P. falciparum is associated with most virulence and highest mortality in endemic African countries Selassie AW (DPHS) 2
The female Anopheles mosquito feeding on a human arm Anopheles gambiae Lifecycle of malarial parasite Trophozoites Schizont Hemoparasite P. falciparum Selassie AW (DPHS) 3
Hemoparasite P. falciparum Trophozoite stage Hemoparasite P. vivax Hemoparasite P. ovale Selassie AW (DPHS) 4
Hemoparasite P. malariae Asexual Life Cycle of Plasmodium Saliva of infected Anopheles enters host blood Sporozoites mature in the liver and attach to RBC receptor sites Lysis of the RBC releases mature sporozoites Clinical signs and symptoms are a result of this release of pyrogens Asexual division takes 48-72 hours Sexual Life Cycle of Plasmodium Gametocytes are released as RBC s are digested in the mosquito Gametocytes form zygotes which mature into sporozoites Migration of sporozoites to salivary glands of mosquito Selassie AW (DPHS) 5
Life Cycle of Plasmodium Extrinsic (sporogonic phase) takes 7-12 days Dependent on species and ambient temperature As temperature increases, length of developmental cycle decreases Anopheles Mosquito and Plasmodium Protozoan Mosquito Life Cycle Mate, store sperm, lay eggs 3-12 batches/life time Each batch requires blood meal from vertebrate Larvae hatch and feed at water s surface 5-15 days Pupal stage is 2-4 days Female adult must survive 7-12 days for the extrinsic cycle in order to transmit infection Transmission occurs with each blood meal Selassie AW (DPHS) 6
Vector Variables Host feeding preferences Digestion rates Frequency of blood meals Biting and resting habits Favored habitats for egg laying Predators/enemies Density of vectors related to humans Survival probability of vector during extrinsic incubation At Risk Host Infected-depends on parasite transmission and available prophylaxis for susceptibles Immune-depends on number of infected Susceptible-depends on number of immune Human Population Immunes Susceptibles Infected Immunity and Endemicity Climatic conditions that favor vector and parasite development contribute to a sustained infection rate among the population Seasonal climates allow loss of collective immunity Selassie AW (DPHS) 7
Host Response Intense and widespread immunological and cellular response Clinical response includes classic shaking chills, fever, sweats Childhood picture of P. falciparum include coma and convulsions, along with nonspecific stomach cramps, headache, cough, muscle aches Host Immunological Response Humoral Immunoglobulinemia Antibody dependent cellular inhibition Cellular Cytokine cascade defense Reticulocytosis Phagocytosis Protective Host Factors Nutritional deficiencies PABA, Mg., Pyridoxine, Riboflavin, Vit. C & E (Vitamin A supplementation helps combat disease) Protein Energy Malnutrition Iron deficiency anemia (value of treatment is greater than risk of intensifying disease) Sickle Cell Trait Selassie AW (DPHS) 8
Diagnosis ELISA/RIA Presence of antibodies lack clinical relevance in endemic areas PCR promising in drug trials Giemsa Stain Dependent on life cycle at parasite stage False positive in endemic areas Treatment/Prophylaxis Drugs Chloroquine (increasing resistance) Amodiaquine Chloproguanil and Dapsone (antifolates) Antimalarials protect against disease, not infection Experimental Treatment Artesunate suppositories for treatment en route to hospital when patient is too sick take med by mouth and IV access is not available Malaria vaccines Anti-sporozoite vaccines prevent infection Anti-sexual blood stage vaccines reduce severity Transmission-blocking vaccines reduce transmission Selassie AW (DPHS) 9
Environmental Influences Climate variables are distant in the web of causation Risk assessments are difficult to predict Temperature and Rainfall were the only factors considered in this analysis Climate Change Research Temperature Influences Mosquito longevity Frequency of blood meals Incubation period of the parasite Selassie AW (DPHS) 10
Mosquito Longevity and Survival Probability Optimal is 20º-25º (C) Threshold is 16º (C) Minimum is assumed to be 9º (C) 0.90 at 20º (C) 0.04 at 40º (C) 0.82 at 9º (C) Frequency of Blood Meals (Human Blood Index) Product of frequency and proportion of such meals from humans Depends on rate of digestion Digestion increases with ambient temperature Basic Reproduction Rate (R o ) Average number of secondary infections produced when one infected individual is introduced into a host population where everyone is susceptible Measure of an individual parasite s reproductive potential Selassie AW (DPHS) 11
Basic Reproduction Rate (R o ) R o <1: Disease will die out R o >1: Disease will spread indefinitely Allows calculation of critical density threshold of hosts necessary for parasite transmission Malaria Transmission Entomologic Inoculation Rate (EIR) Human host parameter based on landing rate and sporozoite rate Vectorial Capacity (VC) Vector parameter based on vector density, blood meals taken, survival probability, and extrinsic incubation Epidemic potential is reciprocal of vectors population s critical density Rainfall Influences Aquatic stage of mosquito Longevity of adult mosquito Selassie AW (DPHS) 12
Rainfall Criterion > 80 mm per month Minimum of 1.5 mm/day 50-60% relative humidity needed to survive relationship is poorly defined Critical Density of Hosts for Malaria Transmission N 1 2 N 2 L og( p) K 2 n N 1 a p N= Number of malaria mosquitoes per human (Critical Density) p = survival probability of mosquito a = frequency of taking human blood n = incubation period in vector K = constant incorporating variables independent of temp. Epidemic Potential is the reciprocal of the critical density 1 N 2 N1 Other Influences Rising populations Deforestation Health care access Drug resistant parasites Wars resulting in mass migration Agriculture, commerce causing migration of non-immune into endemic areas Water development projects Selassie AW (DPHS) 13